Lack of labour and customers Sydney's Chinatown restaurant industry is eager for international students to return

Source: China Overseas Chinese Network

According to the Compilation of The Australian Network, although the blockade in Sydney, Australia has basically ended, the scarcity of international students is seriously affecting the survival of Chinese restaurants in Chinese Street, and even the entire Australian economy.

Mr. Xu has been running nightclubs in Sydney for 10 years. The lockdown during the pandemic has had a huge impact on his business, and he now describes the place as a "dead city." He said Sydney's months-long lockdown had had a "very, very big" impact on his business, including the ni hao bar in Chinatown, which was now understaffed both in customers and stores. "Right now, my 3 stores have just over 20 employees," he says. My business partners and their girlfriends or wives came to the store to help. ”

Before the outbreak, Mr. Xu hired many international students and temporary migrants to provide catering for Sydney's bustling Chinatown. In his Hong Kong-style Kowloon Cafe, more than half of its staff are students from China, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand and South Korea. "It's really hard to survive this time, it's a problem for the entire hospitality industry," he said. Mr Xu is eager to see Australia allow more overseas students and workers to return to Australia, not only to ease the pressure on his business, but also to "save the city".

In this regard, Mr Wang, president of the Council of International Students Australia, also said that international students have made great contributions to the Australian economy. "Not only that, but they also consume in Australia," he said. At the same time, they are still working, contributing to the catering industry, and many have worked as delivery drivers. Not only do they consume, but they also provide valuable labour for the Australian economy, especially during the pandemic. I think the government needs to do more to avoid workplace exploitation... We also need to take more action, such as spot checks, because many international students are underpaid. Mr. Wang also called on the government to pay more attention to the mental health and well-being of international students.

Wei Li, of the University of Sydney Business School, said Australia's hospitality retail and leisure industries had been heavily dependent on international students and temporary visa holders for years. "International labour shortages are not a big problem when lockdowns and borders are closed, as hospitality and retail are the industries most affected by the pandemic," she said. With the lifting of lockdowns and the easing of border restrictions, consumers are eager to spend, and many hotels and retail businesses will have labor shortages, which should find ways to attract local employees and improve efficiency. ”

Li Wei also said that this may be a slow process, and the government may consider gradually increasing the number of students returning to Australia in the first half of next year, and then consider the possibility of returning all international students to Australia in the second half of 2022. (Gao Jiawen)